No Mold in Rentals - New County Code in my state

[Guest guest]

Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to homes

that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

NEWS JOURNAL

Landlords may register and tenants can learn more about the New

Castle County Residential Rental Property Code by calling 395-5555 or

following the link above to NCCo Land Use Department Web site.

Powered by Topix.net

By ANGIE BASIOUNY

The News Journal

02/13/2006

New Castle County landlords are running out of time to comply with a

new law aimed at improving rental property.

Landlords have until May 1 to register their rental units with the

county by providing a description of the property, contact

information and access to random inspections by code enforcement

officers. Those who don't face a fine of $150.

The registration is part of the Residential Rental Property Code, a

program approved by County Council in June to protect people living

in rental housing without punishing responsible landlords.

New Castle County has about 35,000 rental units. The Delaware

Apartment Association, which represents landlords, is trying to help

the county meet the deadline by registering the 24,000 units owned by

its members.

That leaves about 11,000 for county licensing manager

and code enforcement specialist Albert Washington to track down.

Of those, they have more than 7,000 units registered so far.

" I think that's a phenomenal number, " said.

More than two-thirds of apartments are in complexes operated by

companies, but many of the mom-and-pop rentals aren't so easy to find.

So and Washington have done a little legwork, looking up

property owners who have mailing addresses that are different than

the property listing. Those owners were sent letters alerting them to

the new program just in case they are landlords.

" This is really geared toward helping everybody, "

said. " Everybody needs to be comfortable with it, the landlords as

well as the tenants. "

That's why County Executive Coons, who came up with the

program, brought the stakeholders together to hammer out the details

under a plan everyone could live with.

Improved conditions

Deborah Gottschalk, deputy director of Community Legal Aid Society

Inc., which represents low-income tenants, is part of the rental code

advisory committee. She said her organization is looking forward to

seeing whether all the units are registered by the deadline.

" We'll be really interested to see how the inspections work out, " she

said. " We definitely have had clients who have serious rental unit

conditions. We're optimistic that this program will help improve

conditions in rental units. "

Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to homes

that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

There is a complaint form tenants can give their landlords and phone

numbers to call the county if the problems are not fixed.

Realistic picture

Registrations would be used to conduct random inspections of 5

percent of all units each year. Officials are hoping that will give

them a realistic picture of the shape rental properties are in.

Usually, code enforcement officers only inspect apartments when they

receive complaints.

" It's a shifting of the work, " county Land Use Department spokesman

Vince Kowal said. " It puts our efforts up front, and it's a better

use of resources. "

Jerry Heisler, who operates the St. s rental community in the

Bear area, has already registered with the county and said he's in

favor of the program, even though it creates additional costs for

landlords.

" I think this is a fair and good process, " he said. " And when you

look at other codes in the country, this is actually a really good

first step because as the county gets feedback in the next few years

they will be able to tweak it and ratchet it up if they need to. "

Landlords have until July 1, a year from the start of the program, to

give out the tenants' guide or face additional fines.

Contact Angie Basiouny at 324-2796 or abasiouny@....

Top of page

[Guest guest]

ldelp84227,

What State Is This?

Elvira

[] No Mold in Rentals - New County Code in my state

Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to homes

that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

NEWS JOURNAL

Landlords may register and tenants can learn more about the New

Castle County Residential Rental Property Code by calling 395-5555 or

following the link above to NCCo Land Use Department Web site.

Powered by Topix.net

By ANGIE BASIOUNY

The News Journal

02/13/2006

New Castle County landlords are running out of time to comply with a

new law aimed at improving rental property.

Landlords have until May 1 to register their rental units with the

county by providing a description of the property, contact

information and access to random inspections by code enforcement

officers. Those who don't face a fine of $150.

The registration is part of the Residential Rental Property Code, a

program approved by County Council in June to protect people living

in rental housing without punishing responsible landlords.

New Castle County has about 35,000 rental units. The Delaware

Apartment Association, which represents landlords, is trying to help

the county meet the deadline by registering the 24,000 units owned by

its members.

That leaves about 11,000 for county licensing manager

and code enforcement specialist Albert Washington to track down.

Of those, they have more than 7,000 units registered so far.

" I think that's a phenomenal number, " said.

More than two-thirds of apartments are in complexes operated by

companies, but many of the mom-and-pop rentals aren't so easy to find.

So and Washington have done a little legwork, looking up

property owners who have mailing addresses that are different than

the property listing. Those owners were sent letters alerting them to

the new program just in case they are landlords.

" This is really geared toward helping everybody, "

said. " Everybody needs to be comfortable with it, the landlords as

well as the tenants. "

That's why County Executive Coons, who came up with the

program, brought the stakeholders together to hammer out the details

under a plan everyone could live with.

Improved conditions

Deborah Gottschalk, deputy director of Community Legal Aid Society

Inc., which represents low-income tenants, is part of the rental code

advisory committee. She said her organization is looking forward to

seeing whether all the units are registered by the deadline.

" We'll be really interested to see how the inspections work out, " she

said. " We definitely have had clients who have serious rental unit

conditions. We're optimistic that this program will help improve

conditions in rental units. "

Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to homes

that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

There is a complaint form tenants can give their landlords and phone

numbers to call the county if the problems are not fixed.

Realistic picture

Registrations would be used to conduct random inspections of 5

percent of all units each year. Officials are hoping that will give

them a realistic picture of the shape rental properties are in.

Usually, code enforcement officers only inspect apartments when they

receive complaints.

" It's a shifting of the work, " county Land Use Department spokesman

Vince Kowal said. " It puts our efforts up front, and it's a better

use of resources. "

Jerry Heisler, who operates the St. s rental community in the

Bear area, has already registered with the county and said he's in

favor of the program, even though it creates additional costs for

landlords.

" I think this is a fair and good process, " he said. " And when you

look at other codes in the country, this is actually a really good

first step because as the county gets feedback in the next few years

they will be able to tweak it and ratchet it up if they need to. "

Landlords have until July 1, a year from the start of the program, to

give out the tenants' guide or face additional fines.

Contact Angie Basiouny at 324-2796 or abasiouny@....

Top of page

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

Oh, sorry, it is Delaware.

>

> ldelp84227,

>

>

> What State Is This?

>

> Elvira

> [] No Mold in Rentals - New County Code in

my state

>

>

> Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

> printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

> English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to

homes

> that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

> electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

>

> NEWS JOURNAL

>

> Landlords may register and tenants can learn more about the New

> Castle County Residential Rental Property Code by calling 395-

5555 or

> following the link above to NCCo Land Use Department Web site.

>

> Powered by Topix.net

> By ANGIE BASIOUNY

> The News Journal

>

> 02/13/2006

> New Castle County landlords are running out of time to comply

with a

> new law aimed at improving rental property.

>

> Landlords have until May 1 to register their rental units with

the

> county by providing a description of the property, contact

> information and access to random inspections by code enforcement

> officers. Those who don't face a fine of $150.

>

> The registration is part of the Residential Rental Property Code,

a

> program approved by County Council in June to protect people

living

> in rental housing without punishing responsible landlords.

>

>

> New Castle County has about 35,000 rental units. The Delaware

> Apartment Association, which represents landlords, is trying to

help

> the county meet the deadline by registering the 24,000 units

owned by

> its members.

>

> That leaves about 11,000 for county licensing manager

> and code enforcement specialist Albert Washington to track down.

>

> Of those, they have more than 7,000 units registered so far.

>

> " I think that's a phenomenal number, " said.

>

> More than two-thirds of apartments are in complexes operated by

> companies, but many of the mom-and-pop rentals aren't so easy to

find.

>

> So and Washington have done a little legwork, looking up

> property owners who have mailing addresses that are different

than

> the property listing. Those owners were sent letters alerting

them to

> the new program just in case they are landlords.

>

> " This is really geared toward helping everybody, "

> said. " Everybody needs to be comfortable with it, the landlords

as

> well as the tenants. "

>

> That's why County Executive Coons, who came up with the

> program, brought the stakeholders together to hammer out the

details

> under a plan everyone could live with.

>

> Improved conditions

>

> Deborah Gottschalk, deputy director of Community Legal Aid

Society

> Inc., which represents low-income tenants, is part of the rental

code

> advisory committee. She said her organization is looking forward

to

> seeing whether all the units are registered by the deadline.

>

> " We'll be really interested to see how the inspections work out, "

she

> said. " We definitely have had clients who have serious rental

unit

> conditions. We're optimistic that this program will help improve

> conditions in rental units. "

>

> Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

> printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

> English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to

homes

> that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

> electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

>

> There is a complaint form tenants can give their landlords and

phone

> numbers to call the county if the problems are not fixed.

>

> Realistic picture

>

> Registrations would be used to conduct random inspections of 5

> percent of all units each year. Officials are hoping that will

give

> them a realistic picture of the shape rental properties are in.

> Usually, code enforcement officers only inspect apartments when

they

> receive complaints.

>

> " It's a shifting of the work, " county Land Use Department

spokesman

> Vince Kowal said. " It puts our efforts up front, and it's a

better

> use of resources. "

>

> Jerry Heisler, who operates the St. s rental community in

the

> Bear area, has already registered with the county and said he's

in

> favor of the program, even though it creates additional costs for

> landlords.

>

> " I think this is a fair and good process, " he said. " And when you

> look at other codes in the country, this is actually a really

good

> first step because as the county gets feedback in the next few

years

> they will be able to tweak it and ratchet it up if they need to. "

>

> Landlords have until July 1, a year from the start of the

program, to

> give out the tenants' guide or face additional fines.

>

> Contact Angie Basiouny at 324-2796 or abasiouny@...

>

> Top of page

>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

just wondered because there's no area code 324-2796

Elvira

[] No Mold in Rentals - New County Code in

my state

>

>

> Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

> printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

> English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to

homes

> that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

> electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

>

> NEWS JOURNAL

>

> Landlords may register and tenants can learn more about the New

> Castle County Residential Rental Property Code by calling 395-

5555 or

> following the link above to NCCo Land Use Department Web site.

>

> Powered by Topix.net

> By ANGIE BASIOUNY

> The News Journal

>

> 02/13/2006

> New Castle County landlords are running out of time to comply

with a

> new law aimed at improving rental property.

>

> Landlords have until May 1 to register their rental units with

the

> county by providing a description of the property, contact

> information and access to random inspections by code enforcement

> officers. Those who don't face a fine of $150.

>

> The registration is part of the Residential Rental Property Code,

a

> program approved by County Council in June to protect people

living

> in rental housing without punishing responsible landlords.

>

>

> New Castle County has about 35,000 rental units. The Delaware

> Apartment Association, which represents landlords, is trying to

help

> the county meet the deadline by registering the 24,000 units

owned by

> its members.

>

> That leaves about 11,000 for county licensing manager

> and code enforcement specialist Albert Washington to track down.

>

> Of those, they have more than 7,000 units registered so far.

>

> " I think that's a phenomenal number, " said.

>

> More than two-thirds of apartments are in complexes operated by

> companies, but many of the mom-and-pop rentals aren't so easy to

find.

>

> So and Washington have done a little legwork, looking up

> property owners who have mailing addresses that are different

than

> the property listing. Those owners were sent letters alerting

them to

> the new program just in case they are landlords.

>

> " This is really geared toward helping everybody, "

> said. " Everybody needs to be comfortable with it, the landlords

as

> well as the tenants. "

>

> That's why County Executive Coons, who came up with the

> program, brought the stakeholders together to hammer out the

details

> under a plan everyone could live with.

>

> Improved conditions

>

> Deborah Gottschalk, deputy director of Community Legal Aid

Society

> Inc., which represents low-income tenants, is part of the rental

code

> advisory committee. She said her organization is looking forward

to

> seeing whether all the units are registered by the deadline.

>

> " We'll be really interested to see how the inspections work out, "

she

> said. " We definitely have had clients who have serious rental

unit

> conditions. We're optimistic that this program will help improve

> conditions in rental units. "

>

> Under the program, landlords are required to give their tenants a

> printed guide to their rights. The guide, which is available in

> English and Spanish, lets residents know they have a right to

homes

> that have running water, heat, cooking appliances, no exposed

> electrical wires, no mold and no bug infestations.

>

> There is a complaint form tenants can give their landlords and

phone

> numbers to call the county if the problems are not fixed.

>

> Realistic picture

>

> Registrations would be used to conduct random inspections of 5

> percent of all units each year. Officials are hoping that will

give

> them a realistic picture of the shape rental properties are in.

> Usually, code enforcement officers only inspect apartments when

they

> receive complaints.

>

> " It's a shifting of the work, " county Land Use Department

spokesman

> Vince Kowal said. " It puts our efforts up front, and it's a

better

> use of resources. "

>

> Jerry Heisler, who operates the St. s rental community in

the

> Bear area, has already registered with the county and said he's

in

> favor of the program, even though it creates additional costs for

> landlords.

>

> " I think this is a fair and good process, " he said. " And when you

> look at other codes in the country, this is actually a really

good

> first step because as the county gets feedback in the next few

years

> they will be able to tweak it and ratchet it up if they need to. "

>

> Landlords have until July 1, a year from the start of the

program, to

> give out the tenants' guide or face additional fines.

>

> Contact Angie Basiouny at 324-2796 or abasiouny@...

>

> Top of page

>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>>On Behalf Of elvira52

just wondered because there's no area code 324-2796 Elvira>>>

Elvira that's the telephone number without the area code.

Rosie